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ONE WAY TICKET Reviewed by Derek Walker for Christianity Magazine December 2010 ‘When many Christian musicians are either too proud to acknowledge their faith or lack skills in describing anything else, this collection shows how to get it right. Gently earthed lyrics about time passing and everyday life sit among songs of fresh starts and two delicate instrumentals, including a slow-building, deftly-arranged ‘Once in Royal David’s City’. Throughout, his consummate skill on a variety of strings matches the talents of his band of top-rate sessions players..... Haworth knows his strengths—riffs, blues intricate instrumentals, and adroit slide work. He plays to them.’
and from the review for Phantom Tollbooth Five years is a long wait for a Bryn Haworth album. ….but in this case, the longer you wait, the better the product at the end. There is plenty to excite the music-lover before even pressing the play button. . ......The acoustic blues roots workout “Nobody’s Fault but Mine” is always going to appeal to the same bunch, so strengthening this album’s appeal. Whatever Haworth does has a sensitive touch, whether his soft-edged vocals or the delicate touches of mandolin and slide. Ever since his early live staple “Anywhere You Want to Be”, his instrumental tracks have been ones to watch out for. There are two here: “Up on the Downs”, a gentle acoustic shuffle with slide-led lead lines and an instantly ‘gettable’ melody; and a complete re-working of “Once in Royal David’s City.” It comes from such an ambient place that it takes a good 90 seconds to start to recognise the melody. ….. Combining the bluesiness of Glenn Kaiser, the strings finesse of Phil Keaggy and the accessible faith of both, this re-invents blues to his own style. If you play this for long, it might get you running out to get a bottleneck for your air guitar.
‘Lovely grooves and playing and classic songwriting . …. and the CD design is beautiful.’ Gordon Haskell – Skopolos
‘Thanks so much for your CD's. They are excellent, you should be selling tens of thousands! …. the standard of songs, performance and production is really high and the songs are gems!’ John Pantry – Premier Radio
‘Just to let you know that the new CD is simply BRILLIANT ! I love it from the beginning to the end ! I play it almost everyday ! It was more than worth to wait for ! I have a wide collection of different styles of music, but for me there is only one criterium for music to be good : The music and message or story in it has to be authentic or real. Your music expresses that very clearly ! I love the real blues and rock roots feeling in it ! GREAT !!! ’ Bruno france
INSIDE OUT Reviewed by Derek Walker for Phantom Tollboth Haworth has had his work compiled before, but these selections were diluted by conservative Christian labels, based more on lyrical content than song quality. At last, he has had his own say and this collection is exceptionally strong. Haworth has been visiting prisons for some years and half of his concert work is now inside them. Several songs on One-Way Ticket, the sister-album to this, have been inspired by conversations with inmates and seven of these make it onto Inside Out, which has been compiled with prisoners in mind. That in itself means two things: the quality has to be good enough to cut it with this kind of captured audience; and the songs have to be relevant and real enough to appeal to hardened hearers, ……Wise, scriptural, worshipful and faith-building; a collection where expectant faith touches both earth and heaven; and a set full of top-notch playing, this is a delight virtually from beginning to end.
ONE WAY TICKET / INSIDE OUT Reviewed by David Kidman for Netrhythms Although Bryn’s not released an album since 2005’s Keep The Faith, he’s still been busy keeping the faith and spreading the gospel, and this autumn we’re being treated to ample musical and spiritual compensation in the form of two new albums… One Way Ticket sees Bryn returning to his R&B roots, with the occasional detours into light jazz on nine own-compositions and three covers. Although the Gospel is still the primary focus, the secular concerns of everyday life and love also figure large, and the muscular nature of the backings gives the whole set an added strength that really convinces. ……. Two tracks are purely instrumental – solo excursions that demonstrate Bryn’s considerable prowess on slide guitar, including a neat (almost Simpson-esq) treatment of Once In Royal David’s City. And several of the songs have been inspired by conversations with inmates of prisons and convey messages of hope; only very occasionally can these messages perhaps seem a little trite, but for the most part they provide both reflection and genuine inspiration in equal measure.
KEEP THE FAITH Cross Rhythms April 2006 - review by Anthony Longville - 9/10 One of the UK’s musical treasures is Bryn Haworth. This CD is all about the blues with a touch of rock and roll. Trademark Bryn Haworth. A return to recording and to these ears a real return to form. On the opening title track I defy your feet not to tap as Bryn motors along, singing apparently about his love for listening to the radio in the 50’s but with a subliminal message about listening to God. “I’m in Love With You” is a great piece of blues music, showing that Bryn is quite happy to sing songs about his wife as well as the “spiritual” songs. Great blues guitar work. “Wash Me Clean”, a Maggi Dawn song, moves gently along before providing a beautiful showcase for Bryn’s excellence on the slide guitar—so much his forte. “Psalm 40” get the blues treatment. And there’s beautiful worship too on “Wings Of The Wind”. At first I think “Satisfied” is another love song—well it is—but it’s about Jesus’ love for the church. Each track is a gem in its own way. Bryn is one of those people often described as a musician’s musician. The playing, backed by his usual band, is impeccable. Haworth proves again that the blues doesn’t have to be sad. Play it loud!
NetRhythms February 2006 - review by David Kidman Good to hear that Bryn's still going strong, for here he's produced a satisfying new CD whose very title is both a mission statement and a credo for all those of us of like mind. It's a classy, tasty and yet fairly laid-back set consisting almost exclusively of new material by Bryn, mixing gently driving rockers with more reflective statements of Bryn's amiable and largely positive philosophy of life. Positive, yet devoid of the preaching or self-righteousness that might afflict any songwriter who maintains such a faith.....But in truth, it's one of those unpretentious, well-produced and fairly timeless-sounding CDs which appeals at once, stays right with you and never offends or jars - yet there's not much else I can (or need) say about it except that it just makes you feel good all the time it's in the player. Sometimes a short review can say as much as a longer one or more in-depth analysis, and I reckon this is one of those times ...
THE GAP Music Week Magazine‘s reviewer wrote..‘this new album, with touches of folk and blues amid the tuneful rock – really deserves consideration. Lyrics carry a strong Christian message, but there’s nothing Sally Army about the music‘. Bryn deserves even wider recognition as probably the finest bottleneck guitarist this country has ever produced. Hopefully this superb album will give it to him. Cross Rhythms June 1995 - review by Tony Cummings - 10/10 There can be few CCM artists, British or American, who could have three albums reissued ('The Gap' from 1980, 'Pass It On' and 'Wings Of The Morning' from 1983) and have them popping up as bright and immediate as his new stuff. For Bryn's music, locked as it is into an urban blues groove, is utterly timeless. In case you weren't around when Rob Andrews' pioneering Chapel Lane company released these masterpieces, 'The Gap' was the album which set the agenda for all that was to follow, a sassy, romping, stomping set full of searing guitar, lazily understated vocals and simple lyrics full of wit and charm exhorting us to get to God. Eric Clapton's old rhythm section give just the right drive.
SLIDE DON’T FRET Renewal Magazine March 1996 Slide Don’t Fret by Bryn Haworth is the best Christian contemporary CD I’ve heard in a long while. If you hadn’t guessed, slide guitar is the order of the day, and Bryn’s playing is second-to-none. In fact all the musicians are brilliant. The simplicity and relaxed atmosphere of the album is testimony to the skills of all involved in the performance and production. They make it sound so easy.
New Christian Herald February 1996 What a delight superbly played blues and slide guitar is. And the delight is multiplied when the music comes from the excellent Bryn Haworth, wrapped in songs of strength and encouragement. The Christian music scene rarely appreciates the craftsmanship of this man’s playing, and to these ears his expressiveness speaks as eloquently of his love for the Creator as his lyrics. Slide Don’t Fret mixes tempo and style, from the mean and moody “Judgement Blues” to the dance-friendly “Cajun Song”, but it’s really a treat from start to finish.
Cross Rhythms December 1995 - reviewed by Tony Cummings - 10/10 Who'd have thought you could write your Christian testimony in song beginning with the words “Left my home in Lancashire” and put it to a rollicking cajun groove that reeks with the flavour of chicken gumbo rather than Lancashire hotpot? But this then is Bryn Haworth, veteran bluesman of this parish who with this delicious set turns in possibly his finest album yet. Catch “Judgment Blues”, an eight minute plus while searing guitar soars over a languid sax cushion, as spine tinglingly moving as anything T-Bone Walker ever concocted, or the romping, tongue-in-cheek opener where the likes of Blind Willie Johnson and Fred McDowell are name checked alongside Ry Cooder and Lowell George. Concentrating on Bryn’s slide talents was an inspired concept while that rock solid band have such an infectious, laid back swing that only the most devoted technohead won’t be drawn into this timeless celebration of good tunes and old truths. |
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Bryn Haworth Music Reviews |
